Hey everyone! Sorry if this chapter is a little short; I thought you would rather have me update than not, so I thought I should at least update again before the weekend is over. In this chapter you'll learn a little bit more about Sakura's past; :) Hope you all enjoy it!!
Bad, bad Nicole! (hand slap); Sorry readers! I forgot to put up the disclaimer on the last chapter; so I will put up two this chapter :) hope it makes up for it
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 7: Medical Ninja
"What is it Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked.
"Have you ever thought about medical ninjutsu, Sakura?"
"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked while watching her two teammates miserably try to do the tree climbing training.
"Every squad needs to have a nin that knows at least a little medical ninjutsu," Kakashi said with a sigh. "With your chakra control, Iruka and I feel as though you would make an excellent medic nin, Sakura."
"I understand that, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said while looking Kakashi in the eye; her eyes seemed almost hollow. "My aunt was trying to teach me medical jutsu when the... when the attack happened. I know a little bit; my aunt taught me what herbs to collect, and I can do a little chakra healing... I haven't really practiced since I came here, though."
Kakashi nodded his head solemnly. "Do you think you could go pick out some herbs that might help us in battle, Sakura?"
Sakura smiled sadly. "Sure, Kakashi-sensei."
"Good," Kakashi said with a nod; he placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder and squeezed it softly. "Know that I'm here to listen if you ever need to talk, Sakura."
"Of course, sensei."
"I want you to go into the forest, and train by yourself then," Kakashi said while his arm retreated. "I think you already know what I am about to teach the boys."
Sakura nodded her head, and then turned around. Waving her hand behind her, she noticed Naruto and Sasuke were watching her leave. "The secret is to focus; focus your chakra into your feet. Don't get to excited; good luck boys."
Sakura smiled softly when Naruto yelled a loud "Thank you Sakura-Chan!", and she could have sworn she heard a thankful "hn" from Sasuke.
Walking into the forest, Sakura began to search through the brush for some herbs she could use for healing. Kneeling down beside a bush, Sakura grabbed a plants with four star shaped leaves.
Sakura smiled, and placed some of them in her kunai pouch. Taking her hand out slowly, Sakura fired a kunai rapidly into the forest.
"I know you're there," Sakura called as she heard her kunai reflect off something. "You've been watching me for a while now..."
A poof was heard, and Sakura turned around to see the 'hunter nin' her team had encountered the day before. "Sakura," the nin said softly; Sakura instantly froze.
"Ha-Haku?" Sakura questioned quietly. The nin raised his hand, and took off the hunter nin mask.
A dark haired teen boy stood in front of her; he had dark brown eyes, and his appearance was quiet feminine. "I'm glad you're alright, Sakura-Chan," Haku stated with a smile. "After the attack... I didn't know if you had survived."
Sakura smiled softly, but quickly frowned. "What are you doing with Zabuza, Haku?" Sakura questioned quietly; she slowly placed blue chakra into her fists.
"Don't worry Sakura," Haku said with a sad sigh. "I am not here to fight you... After your family was killed I was orphaned once again; I was left alone to die on the streets. Zabuza came along and rescued me; he saved my life, Sakura, so I owe him my own."
Sakura's chakra in her hands vanished and a tear escaped one of her eyes. "I thought the Mizukage had killed you too, Haku," Sakura said while walking up slowly to him. "I don't even know how I was able to escape..."
Haku's feet slowly shuffled toward Sakura. "I don't know how I was able to escape either," Haku said while taking another step to Sakura; he was literally a foot away from her. "Are you sure everyone else was killed?"
Sakura wrapped her arms around Haku. "I didn't want to go back there, Aniki," Sakura said quietly as she pressed her face against Haku's shoulder. "After all the horrible screams I heard that night... I didn't want to risk going back to check."
Haku wrapped his arms around Sakura. "Imouto," Haku said as he ran his hands across Sakura's back. "We are going to have to fight each other. You know I cannot kill you, but I cannot promise not to kill your friends."
Sakura smiled sadly. "And I can't promise I won't kill Zabuza," Sakura muttered. "Just be careful, please Haku. It was nice seeing you... Please take care."
Haku smiled as he placed his mask on his face. "You shouldn't worry so much about me, Imouto," Haku said disappearing with the wind.
Sakura wiped the last tear from her eye as she walked toward the river. She closed her eyes, and a blue chakra appeared on the soles of her feet. Taking a deep breath, Sakura stepped onto the river. Opening her eyes, Sakura's hand speedily shot into the water, and came out with a fish.
Sakura walked over to land, and placed the fish on the ground. After a few minutes, the fish stopped flopping around, and lay immobile in front of Sakura. Sakura closed her eyes again, and brought her hands together.
A strong emerald chakra appeared out of Sakura's hands as she brought them closer to the fish. After about a minute, Sakura's eyes opened and she watched the fish flop around once more. She let a small smile fall upon her face. "Thanks Aunt Tsunade."
"Where's Sakura-Chan?" A tired Naruto asked. He and Sasuke were both laying against their respective trees looking utterly tired and horrible.
"She's out training," Kakashi muttered under his breath.
"Actually, I'm back," Sakura said quickly as she sat beside Kakashi. "I'm pretty sure I can do light healings and maybe even a little bit of internal wounds."
"That's great, Sakura," Kakashi said as he smiled widely; his smile seemed to falter however, seeing Sakura's blank face. He whispered quietly into Sakura's ear, "What's wrong?"
Sakura shook her head quickly. "Sakura and I are going to start heading back," Kakashi said as he stood, grabbing Sakura's hand and taking her with him. "Keep training for another hour or so."
"Hn."
"YAY! MORE TRAINING!"
Kakashi ignored his male students' responses as he practically had to drag Sakura away from the clearing. He stopped walking once the two were at least a mile away from the others. "Now what's wrong?" Kakashi asked softly.
Sakura still did not answer, but Kakashi noticed the tears that were trailing down her eyes. He brought her quickly into a hug, and rubbed her back softly.
"I want to help you Sakura," Kakashi said as closed his visible eye. "I just need you to open up, for me to do so."
"I was born in one of the villages surround the Hidden Mist Village," Sakura spoke, her voice was hollow. "When I was about five, we took in a seven year old boy named Haku. He had been an orphan, and my parents really felt for him. He became like a brother to me... and up until today I thought he was dead."
"What do you mean, Sakura?" Kakashi asked as he brought Sakura away from his chest. He saw her tear stained eyes, and it made him cringe.
"I had just assumed he was dead, Kakashi," Sakura said while looking down into her lap. "... What if some of my other family members survived?"
"That would be great, Sakura," Kakashi said while rubbing small circles across Sakura's back; she was being cradled against his chest again. "I don't understand why you are so upset."
"I was afraid to go back and look, Kakashi," Sakura said bitterly. "What if some died because I had not come back to help them?"
"Sakura, stop," Kakashi said sternly. "How old were you when this happened; seven? Eight? Don't ever blame yourself for this; no matter what it was never your fault."
Sakura nodded her head slowly, and looked up into Kakashi's face with a smile. "Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said as she hugged Kakashi a little tighter.
"No problem, Sakura-Chan," Kakashi said with a smile of his very own. "But we should get back to Tazuna; I don't believe anyone would attack him yet, but we have to make sure."
"Okay," Sakura said while standing. She glanced back toward Kakashi to see him struggle to stand; she smiled. "Would you like me to see if I could heal you a little Sensei?"
"I think I would like to see if you could," Kakashi said as he set himself on the ground.
Sakura closed her eyes as she kneeled next to Kakashi. A faint emerald glow appeared in Sakura's hands; Kakashi's eyes widened.
'I know this healing method,' Kakashi thought as Sakura's hands lightly touched Kakashi's chest, and Kakashi felt a rush of cool chakra entering system.
After a few minutes, Sakura's chakra flickered in her hands, and then disappeared. Sakura's eyes opened, and she smiled faintly at Kakashi. "Sorry I couldn't do all of it," Sakura said as she moved to stand. "I mean I just started practicing again and-"
Kakashi caught Sakura as she lost her balance. She looked up at Kakashi and smiled. "Thanks," she said quietly as she found her balance.
"Who did you learn healing from, Sakura?" Kakashi asked as he stood up rather easily.
"I already told you," Sakura muttered quietly as she began to walk toward Tazuna's house. Kakashi sighed and followed her.
"Sakura," Kakashi sighed from next to her. "Not many people heal the way you do; each person has their own different healing technique... I thought I recognized your own."
"My great Aunt Tsunade taught me," Sakura said without turning toward Kakashi. "Her and Aunt Shizune."